Over the last month or so, I’ve been busily putting together Christmas gifts…in an effort to keep from losing my mind at the very end. All in all, it’s going well. I just have one more gift to put together, then I’ll call it good. And while what I’ll be showing you today doesn’t exactly have to be a gift it’s nice to have on hand and does make a lovely present for someone moving to a cold climate, a college student, or that person on you list who has a loooong commute.
{Image via}
Today, we are talking a DIY winter emergency car kit.
This idea surfaced the week of Thanksgiving when I realized my own winter emergency car kit had been depleted of some of its necessities. My kit was, fittingly, given to me as a gift by my dad when I left for college. I think he even gave it to me for Christmas my freshman year. Even though it is winter appropriate, I’ve left in my car year-round since I got it. Luckily I haven’t needed the major stuff…but I regularly burn through some of the smaller items, at which point I replace them.
When my parents were in town for the holiday, I asked my dad for tips on restocking my kit and making a second kit–for Derek’s car. You see, he’s kind of an emergency preparedness guru. For a while he was our county’s Emergency Management Coordinator. Even now, his work involves creating plans for the “what ifs” of life. It’s safe to call him a trustworthy and expert source.
The following in a list he put together for me. It is formatted in order of importance with the necessities first and the “nice-to-haves” toward the end. Start with an empty backpack. If you are making this for yourself, just use what you have on hand. If it’s being given as a gift, splurge for new, or like-new, items.
1. First Aid Kit. This should have supplies for treating injuries {bandages, gauze, cold compress, aspirin, antiseptic ointment, etc.} as well as medications needed/taken by you and your family, or personal hygiene items custom to you {prescriptions, extra glasses, spare contacts, etc.} The Red Cross sells ready made first aid kits, or you can pick one up at a local drug store.
2. Cell Phone Charger. Keep a spare phone charger in the car that can plug in to the cigarette lighter.
3. A Gallon of Water. Don’t store it in an old milk jug. Instead, keep it in unopened bottles, empty/washed pop liters. Don’t fill bottles all the way to the top. Leave some space as the water will expand if it freezes.
4. Food. Keep about a three day supply. This doesn’t mean you need a ton of food…just some high calorie, high nutrient items, like protein bars. Clif Bars are a great choice.
5. Flashlight. Don’t store batteries in the flashlight. Instead, store them in a separate, unopened container and update them regularly as cold temps can deplete their power.
6. Waterproof Matches. Get the strike-anywhere variety and keep a stash of them in an old prescription bottle. This will keep them from scattering at the bottom of your bag and it will keep them dry. Heat is vital to surviving a winter car catastrophe. Matches can provide heat. You can burn the candles {that you’ll put in the kit in a minute}, or–if needed–items in your vehicle.
7. Candle in a Can. Dad recommends putting several candles in a coffee tin with a plastic, seal-able lid. The can will offer a place to keep your fire safe and will keep your candles dry.
8. Emergency Blanket. A blanket or sleeping bag that can compress is ideal for your winter car kit. I really like these compression bags, made for backpacking, that help pack a sleeping bag or blanket into a very small, tight bundle.
9. Extra Clothing. These can be things that were headed to the Goodwill. Bigger is better than smaller in this case. Put in a coat/sweatshirt {fleece is good since it repels water}, hat, sturdy gloves, socks, boots, a rain poncho, and a compact towel.
10. Tools. Add a multipurpose tool like this one, traction pads for stuck tires, a small {but sturdy} shovel, an axe, plastic sheeting or tarp, and duct tape. If you can’t find traction pad, or don’t want to buy them you can pack a gallon bag of clay cat litter instead.
Dad also added these nice-to-have items.
11. A battery powered, or hand-crank radio–a weather radio, if possible.
12. Extra batteries.
13. A written list of family contact information–in case your phone dies and you don’t have the numbers memorized, or if help arrives and needs to know who to contact.
14. Extra cash.
15. A state map.
16. Playing cards.
